The parishes of the Shore Churches  lies on the Cowal peninsula to the north of the Clyde estuary and is within the Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, renowned for its natural beauty.  

 The village of Kilmun and the Church are named after a Celtic abbot, Mundus, who settled there above the banks of the Holy Loch in the 10th century.  The Parish of Strone consisted of the villages of Strone and Blairmore. Strone lies at the entrance to the Holy Loch and Loch Long. It takes its name from the Gaelic word meaning “elbow.” Blairmore is also a Gaelic word, which simply means “Big Park.” On the High road above these villages, one has a panoramic view of Loch Long which was given the name from the “Longships” when the pagan Norsemen repeatedly invaded these shores from 795 to the late 10th century. In the distance, one can see Loch Goil, Ben Lomond, the peaks of the Elephants and Arrochar hills, Cove Dumbarton, and Finnart, a terminal for some of the biggest tankers in the world. In front is the view of Dumbarton Rock, Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock. A sweeping glance south down the river Clyde, one sees the gleaming white Cloch Lighthouse, and the open sea to the Atlantic.  Ardentinny, which derives its name “The Headland of Fire” from the Gaelic “Ard An-Teine.” was immortalised by Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950) in his song, “O’er the Hill to Ardentinny.” It has a scattered rural element stretching from the shores of Loch Long, nicknamed “The Arm of the Clyde,” and then inland through Glen Finart to the Whistlefield Inn on Loch Eck. The village has a population of 153 of whom about half are retired with a seasonal rise in the population when the two caravan sites open from April to October.  Though peaceful, the Parishes are not isolated; the city of Glasgow and its airport are within easy reach in about 1½ hours, using either the much improved roads via the ’Rest and be Thankful’ or car and passenger ferries across the river Clyde. Most cultural and sporting interests are  catered for in the Dunoon area, including a 18-hole golf course with a new club house. A new large marina in Sandbank has 92 berths for private boats with plans for expansion. Locally there is a variety of activities, which include an outdoor bowling green, 9-hole golf course, outdoor centre, fishing, sailing as well as indoor carpet bowls, art and bridge clubs which are held in Strone, Blairmore and Ardentinny village halls. Employment covers the service industries tourism, farming and light industry while some commute to Glasgow, Paisley and Inverclyde.